CED Annexation Policy Plan 1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Neighborhood Code Enforcement inspects for unsafe, hazardous and substandard housing, abandoned vehicles, noise violations, animal complaints and a variety of other housing, environmental and nuisance violations. Trash and debris violations are a year-round concern while high weeds are a concern in the summer and snow removal is a concern in the winter. Licensing and inspections for certain business uses, such as second-hand stores, open-air stands and automotive service centers, are also performed by this division, along with the review of zoning violations. The Department of Code Enforcement is a very visible city service with its inspectors having direct contact with residents and working closely with neighborhood groups. The Bureau of Weight and Measures is responsible for the inspection of all devices used in commerce within the City. This includes the testing of commercial measures, gasoline pumps, taxi meters and all grocery store scales. The Code Enforcement Clean-up Crew cleans properties of trash, weeds and other environmental code violations when the cited violator does not remove the violations from the property. This crew also maintains City -owned property and provides for snow removal from downtown crosswalks and sidewalks on bridges located in the City. 2. Annexation Responsibilities Neighborhood Code Enforcement will be impacted when new territory is added to the City through annexation. Presently, there are minimal surplus service capabilities for the neighborhood code inspectors. When service capabilities begin to diminish, housing code inspections and neighborhood environmental concerns will be given precedence and other services provided by these inspectors, such as abandoned vehicles, noise and dog complaints will become second priority. Recent annexations generally have few, if a any, immediate code violation service demands. Thus, these annexations have had a minimal impact upon the service capabilities. Implementation of an annexation program will, however, create a demand for additional code enforcement services. Older, established neighborhoods will probably be annexed and some neighborhoods in the annexation study area may place a substantial service demand for neighborhood inspections and other code violation complaints. A plan for providing neighborhood code enforcement services for annexed territory should be developed to keep up with City annexation efforts. This plan must consider the area distribution or assignment of code inspectors and criteria that would identify the need for additional code inspectors and office support staff. In addition to salary costs, each new inspector will need a vehicle. 26